By Matt Underwood Texas Democrats fleeing Trump’s redistricting didn’t abandon us. Gov. Greg Abbott did.
It’s clear, isn’t it? The narrative being pushed that Texas Democrats, by leaving the state to block the Republican’s redistricting efforts, somehow abandoned their constituents just doesn’t hold water. The opposite is demonstrably true. These elected officials are fighting tooth and nail against a blatant power grab, a calculated attempt to rig the system, and strip away the voices of Texas voters. They’re not running away; they’re making a stand. The real abandonment, the true betrayal of the people, is coming from Governor Greg Abbott and the Republican-controlled legislature.
They’re prioritizing a gerrymandering scheme, a blatant manipulation of district lines designed to consolidate power, over the very real needs of the people they’re supposed to represent. We’re talking about a special legislative session called to redraw the maps in a way that favors the Republican Party, even though the state is still reeling from the devastating effects of severe flooding in the Hill Country. Families lost loved ones and homes, and yet, the urgent need for better flood warning systems, promises made to the affected communities, were pushed aside. Instead, the focus was, and remains, on partisan politics.
The actions of these Democrats are directly contrasting with the actions of the Republicans. When Trump called upon officials in Georgia and essentially requested them to “find” 11,000 votes, they refused. They understood that what he asked was wrong and unlawful. However, when Trump reportedly called Governor Abbott and asked for five more congressional seats, the Governor’s reply was not a rejection of these unethical requests, but instead, an agreement to comply with Trump’s demands. This disparity exemplifies the blatant hypocrisy displayed by the Texas Republican party.
The maps being proposed slice and dice communities in ways that defy logic, forcing people to live in districts that don’t reflect their neighborhoods or their interests. For instance, people live in one district, then have to drive through another district to get to work, which is yet again in a different district. It’s a system designed to silence dissent and protect the powerful. It’s a stark illustration of how the Republican leadership in Texas prioritizes party over the people.
The motivations of these political figures are worth examining. A refusal to address pressing issues and, instead, a rush to redraw districts to ensure that they and their allies remain in power. It’s the opposite of leadership, and it’s the opposite of serving the public. These actions are clearly designed to keep certain leaders in power, even at the expense of the communities they claim to represent. These maneuvers highlight the reality that these individuals are more committed to protecting their own status.
The irony is rich. The very people who scream the loudest about “election integrity” are the ones who are actively working to undermine it. The Republicans are being accused of trying to steal votes in Texas. This is exactly the sort of behavior that the fleeing Democrats are actively trying to prevent. To suggest these elected officials are abandoning their constituents is a gross distortion of the truth. They are using the only tools they have to resist an attempt to subvert the democratic process. And that, it seems, is a line Governor Abbott and his party are all too willing to cross.
They are playing politics with the lives of citizens. The Democrats are using the only power that they have to resist this blatant injustice. This is what is to be expected from those who are supposed to be the leaders of Texas.
The reality is this: The Texas Democrats didn’t abandon their constituents. They are, in fact, fighting for them. Governor Abbott, on the other hand, has shown, time and again, that his priorities lie elsewhere. He has consistently failed to act in the best interests of all Texans. This is a battle for democracy itself, and the lines are clearly drawn.